celebrate. decorate. create.

Monthly Archives: March 2015

Hiya. So I know there is going to be a big announcement tomorrow but I am super excited about today’s tag. Maybe almost as excited as I am for tomorrows post.

So today is all about an egg shaped tag–It is a total “green” craft. What I mean is that the tag came as a tag attached to a recent spring home décor purchase. I know if I were the one reading this blog post and not writing it I would want to see what the purchase was–well be patient you will get to see the item that was attached to the tag. I promise I did NOT purchase the bunny (ha! now you know) just for the tag. Those of you who are collagers or mixed media mavens will appreciate that I didn’t pick the item just for the tag. Okay onward…

So, I discovered the fab egg tag while removing the tags from my bunny and thought, “hmmm. I should make an Easter egg shaped tag since it is indeed an egg shaped tag. Then I promptly forgot all about it. Fast forward a few weeks. I was working on a new technique and thought wow this resin resist technique would make a really cool speckled egg. So, then I had to dig around and find the tag because of course I didn’t put it in my tag bin as I knew I was going to do something cool with it.

So, because this is my blog and I get to do what I want I am not going to share the technique with you here and now. I am making a video with my boy sharing the technique. He created a youTube channel for me. You can find my new channel at youTube/Trishcreates. There is even one video already posted. This video will appear in due course. You will be the first to know when this technique is posted. In any case, enjoy the images. Love the tag!

I think the tag looks a little like a misshapen planet Earth but just you wait…It looks like an Easter Egg in no time! A little ribbon, a little embellishment and it’s a beauty. Also, you can partially see the bunny it was originally attached to “holding” the egg tag!

Yup! Here is a great April Fool’s. When my oldest was playing spring baseball during his kindergarten year it was my turn to bring the post game snack. It is supposed to be a healthy snack but since I am me and it was April Fool’s Day I decided to bring a snack that looked healthy but was actually not.

That plate of spaghetti covered in meatballs is really cupcakes smothered in piped frosting, strawberry jam, Ferraror Roche chocolates and white chocolate shavings. The idea (and in this case I darn near followed the instructions verbatim) was from Hello! Cupcake. Great idea! I am glad I was lucky enough to have the perfect excuse to have a little fun! Copy my copy of Hello Cupcake or check out the book for the exact recipe and directions.

Hi. Hey, I think I mentioned that I was going to share my burlap Easter banner that was published in Somerset Studios’: Holidays & Celebrations but I seem to have misplaced it. I took it to a creative event and can’t remember where I put it for safe keeping. Note to self, stop putting things in a “safe spot.” I have another great Easter Banner to share with you. It is a true Banner in a Blitz. It took no time at all.

In any case It’s getting to be that time, you know, the time to decorate your home with a few holiday pieces. To that end, I created this super fast, super easy glitter Easter egg banner. It can’t much simpler than this.

It took a sum total of 15 (maybe 20) minutes to make. First I purchased a sleeve of glittered Easter eggs from Target. The eggs cost $5 bucks. When I got home I strung skinny metallic gold ribbon through each egg. Then I glued the glitter eggs together to so they wouldn’t separate while hanging. Then I cut out flag shape or long triangle shape pastel scrapbook paper to use as the layering piece between the glitter eggs and the gold letters. I used metallic gold letters I purchased from Target at the same time I picked up the eggs. Of course, you may make this banner more elaborate if you would like by cutting and glittering your own letters or adding more layers between the eggs and the letters. But you can’t beat the impact of this banner.

Here the banner is hanging above my dining room table. I keep the star garland and the silver ball chain up almost all year and just add a seasonal banner to them. Sometimes this layered look works better than other times.

My first Art Journal post and my first PUBLIC Art Journal display. Wow! I had no idea the pressure I would feel trying to pick the first public appearance of my art journaling (I had tons of pages to choose from). I have been of the mind that my art journal is for me and not for my friends, family or students, but really if anyone ever asked I shared my pages and sometimes when I was especially pleased I would share my page out of pure joy. And of course during family art journal time we all see what each other creates. Okay, so all that being said I picked the below image as my first Art Journal post as it sums up how I feel most about my creativity and ability to grow and share. It is certainly not my best art journal page but really art journaling isn’t about good or bad it’s about creating pure and simple. So, here’s my first every art journal share…

Cheers,

Tricia

PS I am not sure when this page was created I think spring 2013. Possibly even for a Life Book Prompt. If it is from a Life Book Prompt every intent is made to give credit where credit is due. Thanks.

Easter eggs are a big tradition in our household. They were a big deal when I was a kid and they are a big deal now that I have kiddos. In fact, every Easter we have gotten together with family and neighbors and spent the evening decorating Easter eggs. It is a big ta-doo. We have decorated dozens and dozens of eggs. Each year we seem to decorate more and more. Some years the eggs are traditional Easter eggs with Paas dye, vinegar and some really muddy looking eggs. There always seems to be one or two that are left for the whole evening in the vinegar bath. Sometimes this effect is saturated and stunning and sometimes its just plain bright.

Some years we go a little crazy decorating and the eggs are little works of art (always a good thing). One year after the boys went to bed my girlfriend and I spent the rest of the night (and it turned into a late one) blowing eggs and creating little hats and ears for our blown eggs. Some of our creations were pretty incredible if I don’t say so myself. Below is a picture of Mr. & Mrs. Bunny. They were inspired by a crafty Easter book we were looking through. The Easter eggs were o’ so delicate but just plain darling. We loved them immediately. They took a lot of (pleasant) effort, some frustrated groans, some laughing… as you can see, the end product was well worth our time and the death of many broken eggs.

Love today’s tags! There is a great tag with a glittered blue bird and a great tag with a little gift pouch. I created them at the same time and love how each of them stands on their own but are even more fun when photographed together.

The gift pouch tag is sophisticated mix of art and function. As so often in art or in creating anything, I didn’t set out to create a functional piece, I set out to create a piece using my leftover Cricut die cuts and a tag from my stash. The tag was created from the cardstock that is behind the ephemera in those fun little creative embellishment packets). I had a few itty-bitty craft paper shopping bags and some glitter. What I got was a beautiful gift tag with the perfect mix of rustic and glittery.

The glittered bluebird was more intentional. I was experimenting with Tim Holt’s Distress Glitter and wanted to create something that was seasonal and earthy but also with a little celebratory bling to it. I cannot decide which tag I like better. Can you?

So after I made the Skull Shamrock piece and hung it on the wall I thought it would be great to create a companion piece. I thought a St. Patrick’s Day piece would be great. I could put the art up seasonally together and take them down together. I just wasn’t sure what the piece was going to be…another graphic piece…a shamrock? a favorite Irish proverb or saying? something witty? what?

Then as happens so often, the companion fell in my lap. My older boy was required to clean out his drawers as they were stuffed. He dumped a pile of t-shirts on my bed that were too small. Guess what was in that pile? A skull t-shirt. wow! yippee! so fun! Clearly we went through a phase (maybe we still are?) of skull t-shirts–must have been or is a trend. I am now addicted! I secretly am keeping my open for skull t-shirts that I can cut up and hang on my wall.

Here is the Shamrock Skull’s companion. Cool! If I can find another it will be a triptych. I will hang it for not only St. Patty’s Day but also Dia De Los Muertos. So fun!

According to the calendar, spring has sprung, even if The Weather didn’t get the memo (actually it seems it has). Happy Spring! It’s also a supermoon tonight. So pretty! Here’s a little piece of art in process to get you in the mood or inspire you to create something new. I will post completed pictures and how to’s next month. In the meantime, enjoy!

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Trish

I am a creative soul. I love to create. decorate & celebrate. I live in a small, quirky townhome on a teeny-tiny lake in an L.A. suburb with my little guys and my big guy and a goldfish named Lightening.